The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1887-09-01
POVERTY AND WAGES.

poverty and low wages in this coun-
try, and our friends or enemies at the
North make the alleged poverty and
labor OF the negroes ut the South II
standing theme of reproach and Sc
we're abuse OF the people ut this see
ton. Poverty and hard labor exists
everywhere in the world, in every
country and cline, and among all
races and colors Of people. But we
venture to say that these burdens on
human nature exists to less extent
in this country, and especially at the
South among the colored people,
than anywhere else in the world.
That we are not wrong.in this as
sertion, we need only refer to what
United States Senator Frye, OF Maine
who, with his family, has just return
ed from an extensive visit to Europe,
has to say of poverty AMI labor ex-
listing in England and elsewhere in
the best countries on the other side
OF the Atlantic. Senator Frye SAYS
I'VE have been absent about five
months and We have had ii very en-
joyable trip. We have taken a tour
of the continent aud of Treat Brit
ian, and although we have seen many
places, we have seen no place like
home-no place in all respects like
America. You will find in the Old
World much that is admirable, but
what impressed me most painfully
was the poverty of the masses Of the
people. Why the people in Europe
live OF the poorest Of food and NIGH
ty little of it. found that laborers
in GLASGOW work for Is. I'd. day-62
cents. . i !
Speaking of wages, found girls in
factories in Venice working with
great skill for from to II cents
day, the most experienced getting y
cents day, out OF which they have
to live. But how they live is a won
der. Their chief diet is maccaroni.
Farm hands all over Europe, women,
earn 20 cents day. Women- do
most of the field work. saw no i'm
proved machinery on the farms Of
the continent have seen twenty
women in one field at work, not
man in sight The plain people have
no meat to eat but once Il week on
the continent. The condition Of
American wage earners il inoompara-
bI6 better than that of the working
people in Europe. 1t is the differ
ence between comfort and compe-
tence and discomfort and insufficient
food and clothing"
Now, dig painful picture is drawn
by leading republican Senator at
the North and he speaks not OF col
orcd laborers, but of white laborers
in the most advanced nations of the
world. Are any colored people who
either work or are idle Z. The south,
subjected to such low rates of wages
or have to endure such extreme
poverty as is here portrayed as pre-
vailing among the peasants OF Eu-
rope -! Is any class Of our working
people, even the lowest, either men
or women, reduced to anything APP
preaching five or twelve cents day
Tor their labor, or to meat once a
week In their food =! No such state
OF things exists anywhere at the
south among any class of our people.
On the contrary we venture to say
that there are few families at the
south among either rage, unless when
they are grossly neglecttul OF their
own business and comforts, that do
not have lair wages and three ample
meals per day. This is more than
can be honestly said Of much Of the
boosted white labor at the north, as
is manifest from the numerous strikes
which are of constant occurrence in
tnat section, and in the more popu-
lous and wealthy sectinns.